An optically tunable wideband optoelectronic oscillator based on a bandpass microwave photonic filter.

An optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) with wideband frequency tunability and stable output based on a bandpass microwave photonic filter (MPF) has been proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Realized by cascading a finite impulse response (FIR) filter and an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter together, the tunable bandpass MPF successfully replaces the narrowband electrical bandpass filter in a conventional single-loop OEO and serves as the oscillating frequency selector. The FIR filter is based on a tunable multi-wavelength laser and dispersion compensation fiber (DCF) while the IIR filter is simply based on an optical loop.

Cavity-length optimization for high energy pulse generation in a long cavity passively mode-locked all-fiber ring laser.

In order to achieve higher pulse energy in a passively mode-locked fiber ring laser, a long cavity length is commonly implemented. However, a long cavity operating in the anomalous dispersion regime also leads to pulse broadening, which reduces the average pulse power. In this paper, the trade-off between cavity length and average pulse power is investigated with the aim of optimizing the cavity length to achieve maximum pulse energy.

Noise conversion from pump to the passively mode-locked fiber lasers at 1.5 μm.

We characterize the noise conversion from the pump relative intensity noise (RIN) to the RIN and phase noise of passively mode-locked lasers at 1.5 μm. Two mode locking mechanisms, nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) and semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM), are compared for noise conversion for the first time.

Bidirectional passively mode-locked soliton fiber laser with a four-port circulator.

We present an all-fiber bidirectional passively mode-locked soliton laser with what we believe is a novel cavity configuration. Using a four-port circulator, we incorporate two different semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors (SESAMs) into the laser cavity, which enables bidirectional mode locking. The laser allows the generation of two independent countercirculating mode-locked pulse trains, each with an individual fundamental repetition rate that can be adjusted by varying the SESAM pigtail length.

Nonlinear coupling of relative intensity noise from pump to a fiber ring laser mode-locked with carbon nanotubes.

Pump relative intensity noise (RIN) has been recognized as a major source of noise in mode-locked lasers. The coupling of RIN from the pump to the output of a passively mode-locked fiber laser (PMFL) is systematically investigated using a pump modulation technique. It is found that the linear RIN coupling ratio from pump to PMFL is decreased with an increase in modulation frequency and is independent of modulation power.

Observation of timing jitter reduction induced by spectral filtering in a fiber laser mode locked with a carbon nanotube-based saturable absorber.

A self-starting passively mode-locked fiber laser with a carbon nanotube-based saturable absorber and a fiber-based bandpass filter (BPF) is proposed. Incorporation of a BPF into the cavity leads to a great reduction of its timing jitter from 84.8 to 29.

Timing-jitter reduction of passively mode-locked fiber laser with a carbon nanotube saturable absorber by optimization of cavity loss.

We investigate the relationship between timing jitter and cavity loss of a passively mode-locked fiber ring laser with a carbon nanotube as a saturable absorber. It is the first time that we experimentally demonstrated the reduction of timing jitter by properly increasing laser cavity loss. The lowest timing jitter is achieved when the cavity loss is optimized.